The ladies seated in front of the mirror in the powder room exchanged glances, with Countess Tarel at the center.

“Were we just in danger?”

“Surely not. Wasn’t it just a coincidence?”

“It must be, right? That Duke Amaterasu’s daughter…”

Unable to believe that the fool from the Amaterasu ducal family had, quite normally, put them in their place based on status, the ladies comforted themselves by calling it a coincidence.

But even as they did so, they were secretly pleased.

While it was true that Jieselgrante had a poor reputation as the fool of the Amaterasu ducal family, the truth was that they had no interactions with such high-ranking families as the Amaterasu duchy.

If they could seize this opportunity to build a relationship with Duke Amaterasu or the young duke, they could aim not only for their husbands’ advancement but also for their daughters’ social elevation.

Although the owner of this salon was called Countess Tarel, there were rumors circulating that she had been a lower-ranked noble.

Countess Tarel herself avoided talking about her family background.

Her husband, Count Tarel, was an elderly man with white hair, so frail that they had never encountered him despite visiting the count’s residence numerous times.

Though everyone refrained from saying it outright, there were whispers that the Emperor had bought her the position of the old man’s second wife, who could barely lift a spoon, to make it easier for his mistress to come and go from the imperial palace.

Thus, the three women gazed at their reflections in the mirror of the powder room, each lost in their own thoughts.

Looking at her flawless appearance that needed no adjustment, Countess Tarel recalled a recent event.

‘My lady, a letter has arrived from the Amaterasu ducal family.’

Having no prior acquaintance with the Amaterasu ducal family, Countess Tarel was skeptical at first.

Wondering if it might be someone’s thoughtless prank.

But the seal on the wax sealing the letter was undoubtedly that of the Amaterasu ducal family.

‘Could it be Duke Amaterasu? Or perhaps Young Duke Mikhail?’

Finally setting aside her doubts slightly, Countess Tarel read through the letter, unable to hide her joy.

Filled with expectations that this would mark the beginning of an association with the Amaterasu ducal family.

However, the sender of the letter to Countess Tarel was neither of them.

The letter was from Duke Amaterasu’s daughter, containing greetings and expressing a desire to meet in the near future.

Disappointed, the Countess ignored the letter without sending a reply.

For a moment, she wondered if this was alright, but as nothing came of it, she let it pass.

However, despite not sending a reply, another letter arrived from Duke Amaterasu’s daughter a few days later.

Asking to be invited to the salon.

While she could have made excuses once, she couldn’t ignore it twice, so Countess Tarel had no choice but to send an invitation to the salon to Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.

If Duke Amaterasu’s daughter were to make a mistake at the salon, she would be the subject of social scandals for a while.

Countess Tarel’s salon might also be ridiculed along with Duke Amaterasu’s daughter, but at least until the rumors died down, various social gatherings would compete to invite Countess Tarel.

The Empress, who had almost completely taken over the social scene since Princess Trinity’s death, had been bothering her anyway.

If she could divert the attention of the social circles from the Empress to herself, even for a brief moment, that would be enough.

“But she seems a bit different from the rumors we’ve heard.”

“I thought so too.”

The ladies chattered, with Countess Tarel between them, fixing her already immaculate hair in front of the mirror.

In fact, it was the first time all three of them had encountered Duke Amaterasu’s daughter face to face.

“To be honest, I was expecting her to create an uproar with some bizarre words and actions.”

“Me too. I was looking forward to having an amusing story to tell my daughter.”

Countess Tarel turned her gaze from her perfect reflection in the mirror, looking at the two women alternately.

“We don’t know yet. The gathering has just begun.”

At Countess Tarel’s meaningful remark, a wicked smile settled on the ladies’ faces.

“Shall we go back now?”

Countess Tarel turned around gracefully.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Eagerly anticipating what interesting events might unfold, the ladies on either side of Countess Tarel soon followed her steps.

However, their expressions froze as they entered the hall.

“…What’s going on here?”

In Countess Tarel’s absence, the atmosphere in the hall had heated up considerably.

Smiles never left the faces of the ladies, and some even forgot their dignity and burst into laughter.

It looked far more enjoyable than when Countess Tarel had been leading.

“What on earth are you discussing that makes you all so merry?”

“Come quickly. Duke Amaterasu’s daughter is in the middle of telling an amusing story.”

“…?”

The ladies standing on either side of Countess Tarel exchanged furtive glances with peculiar expressions.

‘Was Duke Amaterasu’s daughter known for her eloquence?’

They thought to themselves.

“Yes, please sit down.”

Duke Amaterasu’s daughter turned towards Countess Tarel and spoke.

Even that small action of turning her head slightly towards them exuded elegance.

“My lady, are you alright? Nothing unusual happened inside?”

As Jieselgrante boarded the carriage, Lindsey, who had been waiting, scurried over and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I was worried that associating with Countess Tarel might be a bit… problematic for someone as noble as you, my lady.”

She seemed concerned that associating with the Emperor’s mistress might negatively affect her reputation.

“Though it’s presumptuous for someone like me to comment on your affairs, my lady, it’s just that… for a young person to be the second wife of an elderly man who could pass any day, it’s a bit, well, you know.”

While she looked to be in her twenties at first glance, Countess Tarel was in her thirties.

There was a slight age difference with the Emperor, but the age gap with Count Tarel was quite significant.

“I’m worried that associating with such a person might further damage your reputation, my lady.”

Lindsey said, glancing around to ensure no one was listening.

‘As expected.’

Since Lindsey’s concern was perhaps natural, Jieselgrante quickly spoke up.

“I have everything planned out. Lindsey, don’t worry.”

“Pardon? Yes…”

Lindsey closed her mouth, gazing at the side profile of Jieselgrante, who sat with a straight back and proper posture, staring ahead.

Wondering why lately every word from her lady seemed so reassuring.

While the imperial garden was filled with yet-to-bloom flower buds, the vase on the white table was brimming with fully bloomed flowers.

The dewy petals were so fresh that they made one anticipate the coming spring.

The flowers adorning the table were specially brought from the Cardia duchy, which had a slightly warmer climate than the imperial capital, and even for this brief visual luxury, the cost was considerable.

“They smell truly lovely.”

The Empress smiled pleasantly as she leaned close to the beautifully arranged flowers in the vase and inhaled.

“I’m so glad you like them. I was hoping to present them to Your Majesty for today’s tea party.”

A noblewoman sitting some distance from the Empress said.

Then, another noblewoman beside her added.

“Your Majesty, how do you find the vase? Is it to your liking?”

The Empress looked down at the round, milky white vase and replied.

“It’s lovely. I’m quite fond of both the color and shape.”

“As expected, Your Majesty’s aesthetic sense is superb. This is a masterpiece by an artisan who only presents 12 pieces a year…”

Led by the noblewomen who had prepared the flowers and vase decorating the tea party table, other ladies also busied themselves trying to appeal their loyalty to the Empress.

Noblewomen gathered from various regions ahead of Joshua’s investiture as Crown Prince competed to gain the Empress’s favor.

Not a few noblewomen also put forward their beautifully adorned daughters, aiming for the position of future empress.

“Have you heard that news? They say Countess Tarel’s salon is quite popular these days.”

At that moment, the Empress’s brow furrowed at a voice coming from a table slightly removed from the central one.

“Ah yes, I’ve heard about that too.”

The Empress turned only her eyes to gaze at the table that had brought up Countess Tarel as a topic.

Judging by her plump cheeks and clear, clean skin, it was certain she hadn’t yet experienced the harshness of high society.

“Whose daughter is she?”

The Empress discreetly asked Marchioness Ratse.

Marchioness Ratse, who had been observing the young ladies’ table while mindful of the Empress’s mood, said,

“She is the daughter of Count Fernando, Your Majesty. I will ensure she is thoroughly cautioned about discretion.”

The Empress nodded slightly at Marchioness Ratse’s response.

Soon, Marchioness Ratse rose from her seat and walked towards the table where the young ladies were seated.

The Empress quietly lifted her teacup, watching Marchioness Ratse’s actions.

‘Has it already come to this.’

Years ago, the Empress had barred the Emperor’s mistress, Countess Tarel, from even setting foot in the imperial palace.

As a result, to enjoy secret meetings with Countess Tarel, who found it difficult to enter the palace, the Emperor would come and go outside the palace in the night dew.

Since this too was unfavorable for the Empress, she soon devised a new strategy.

She would allow Countess Tarel to enter the palace, but prevent her from appearing in mainstream social circles.

Thus, Countess Tarel regularly came and went from the palace to meet the Emperor, but was treated as if she didn’t exist.

For instance, she was not allowed to mingle with noblewomen from powerful families.

This was to prevent high-ranking nobles from making frivolous claims that even the Emperor’s illegitimate child might have a right to succession.

‘It seems it’s time to summon her to the palace.’

The name of Countess Tarel, who seemed to have been living quietly and inconspicuously, had been reaching the Empress’s ears frequently these days.

It was due to the popularity of her salon.

Even some nobles who had been careful not to offend the Empress were said to have attended Countess Tarel’s salon.

Quite bravely, indeed.